Trump Still Pouting Over Mueller Report: ‘I Could Have Fired Everyone’

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 26: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Joshua Holt, members of Holt's family and the congressional delegation of Utah at the U.S. at The White House on May 26, 20...WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 26: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Joshua Holt, members of Holt's family and the congressional delegation of Utah at the U.S. at The White House on May 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. Holt, who had been imprisoned in Venezuela for two years, was released following diplomat efforts by the Trump and Obama administrations. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images)MORE LESS

Robert Mueller made clear in the redacted version of his report that President Trump tried again and again to interfere with the Russia investigation by ordering the firing those in charge of the probe. The only reason his efforts were unsuccessful, Mueller said, is that “the persons who surrounded the President declined to carry out orders or accede to his requests.”

Trump’s takeaway: he still could have done so!

Some six hours after the report was released publicly, the President tweeted that he “could have fired everyone.”

“Donald Trump was being framed, he fought back. That is not Obstruction.” @JesseBWatters I had the right to end the whole Witch Hunt if I wanted. I could have fired everyone, including Mueller, if I wanted. I chose not to. I had the RIGHT to use Executive Privilege. I didn’t!

Among those the President wanted to get rid of: former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, former White House Counsel Don McGahn, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and Mueller himself.

Allegra Kirkland (@allegrakirkland)
Allegra Kirkland is a New York-based reporter for Talking Points Memo. She previously worked on The Nation’s web team and as the associate managing editor for AlterNet. Follow her on Twitter @allegrakirkland.